19-12-03 Scientists in North America have concluded that the environmental
impact of the Exxon Valdez spill was more serious than previously believed.
Their report, published in the journal Science, shows that many animals and
plants have suffered long-term damage.
The spill, almost 15 years ago, deposited around 40,000 tons of crude oil into
Prince William Sound, Alaska. The Exxon Valdez spill, one of the largest of all
time, is the most thoroughly researched spill. The report combines findings by
many scientists who've investigated different aspects of the 1989 disaster.
It finds that significant amounts of crude oil remain trapped in sediment on
the sea bed, where it is still poisoning creatures such as mussels and clams.
When larger animals eat these creatures, they are also damaged; the population
of sea otters has recovered to only half of its pre-spill level, and several
duck species are also significantly reduced.
Concentrations of toxic chemicals from the oil remain high enough to damagefish
eggs. The researchers conclude that assumptions about oil damage have to be
challenged. Damage to birds and fish persists over long periods, they say, and
oil does not automatically dissipate in the sea over time.
The conclusions of this study will be felt well beyond Alaska, not least in
Spain, where debates continue over the legacy of the Prestige spill just over a
year ago, and the adequacy of the Spanish government's response. But the study
has been questioned by ExxonMobil.
Vice President Frank Sprow said: "Hundreds of peer-reviewed studies
conducted by researchers from major independent scientific laboratories and
academic institutions resoundingly demonstrate the recovery of the Prince
William Sound ecosystem and strongly contradict the news release's claim that
wildlife and aquatic plants continue to suffer as a result of the 1989 Valdez
oil spill."
Source: BBC News